A rare edition of a once-banned lesbian novel and stirring memorabilia from the suffragette movement will be housed in new archive that documents the growing empowerment of women in Scotland.

The country's first women's archive, which will be located in a purpose-built facility at the Mitchell Library in Glasgow, was made possible by a donation of £410,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The Glasgow Women's Library, which also hopes to move to new premises at the Mitchell, has spent 17 years collecting the 30,000 publications, drawings, recordings, films and photographs that will make up the archive.

One of the most important items in the collection is a rare first edition of the 1928 lesbian novel Well Of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall.

The novel follows the life of Stephen Gordon, an upper-class Englishwoman whose sexuality is apparent from an early age. Although it did not contain any explicit sexual references, the book scandalised the nation with its defence of lesbian relationships. Almost every copy of the novel was retracted in Britain after the courts ruled that it was obscene.

Other material, such as a postcard depicting a crying baby above the slogan: “Mummy's a suffragette”, reveals the strength of debate surrounding the campaign for women's right to vote.

Sue John, of the Glasgow Women's Library, said the archive would celebrate the diverse histories and achievements of Scots women. “Most historians accept that women's contribution to life in Scotland has been overlooked so it essential that this collection is catalogued and preserved for future generations,” Ms John said.

“Some of it paints a picture of ordinary life. For example, someone donated amazing dressmaking patterns from the 1930s to the 1950s. But its real strength is in documenting the growth of the women's liberation movement in Scotland.

“It shows us that women have had to fight for equality, from the suffragettes in the early 20th century to the women's libbers at the forefront of the second wave of feminism in the 1960s.

“If it wasn't for these women we would not have campaigning organisations such as Women's Aid to end domestic violence.”

Just under half of the £410,000 awarded to the project will go towards building a home for archive in the Mitchell Library. The rest will be used to employ an archivist, whose tasks will include training a team of volunteers and promoting the new resource in a series of nationwide events.

Colin McLean, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, said: “The women's archive is opening up an important area of social history to many more people. Unique in Scotland, it will be a catalyst for women to come together to discuss the issues that face them and to understand the issues that face others.”

The new archive is expected to be open by the end of next year.

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